The opening week of the 2026-2027 UEFA Champions League league phase delivered statement victories for continental heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain, FC Barcelona, and Bayern Munich, while French clubs endured a mixed bag featuring a late escape for Lens and a frustrating collapse for Lille, according to reports from European sports media.
Paris Saint-Germain, entering the campaign as defending champions, set the early pace at the top of the league phase standings by overwhelming Slovan Bratislava 6-1 at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday. Luis Enrique’s side managed the emphatic win despite missing several regular starters, including Marquinhos, Désiré Doué, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, to correct a sluggish domestic start in Ligue 1 that featured two draws and a defeat.
Ferran Torres powered the Parisian attack with a hat-trick, while Ousmane Dembélé contributed a brace alongside two assists. The commanding victory instantly established a benchmark for the rest of the field, though domestic rivals Barcelona matched the offensive output shortly after.
Barcelona and Bayern Munich Send Early Warnings
At the Camp Nou on Wednesday, Barcelona brushed aside Feyenoord in a 5-1 rout. Lamine Yamal and summer transfer arrival Gabriel Jesus both found the scoresheet, handing the Catalan side an ideal start ahead of a high-profile domestic and continental autumn schedule.
Bayern Munich mirrored those margins on Thursday evening. After a scoreless first half against Bodø/Glimt, the German powerhouse unleashed a relentless second-half barrage to seal a 5-0 victory. French international Michael Olise starred for the side by netting a brace during the comprehensive rout.
Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappé made a decisive impact for Real Madrid on Tuesday, scoring in a tense clash against Inter Milan to guide his side past a defensively stubborn Italian opponent, according to match reports.
Lille Suffers Late Collapse Against Real Betis
While the continent’s elite cruised, French participants experienced dramatic fortunes. Lille left the pitch with severe regrets after surrendering a halftime lead to lose 2-3 at home against Real Betis. Under Davide Ancelotti, Les Dogues controlled the opening forty-five minutes, capitalizing on their only two shots on target through goals from Ayase Ueda and Alexsandro.
The match turned sharply after the interval. Betis struck twice in quick succession to erase the deficit before the hour mark. Lille’s chances of salvaging a result evaporated entirely when Ethan Mbappé received a red card, leaving the hosts to rue a missed opportunity on home turf.
Lens Secures Dramatic Stoppage-Time Victory in Prague
RC Lens endured a roller-coaster evening against Slavia Prague before snatching all three points in a frantic finish. Following a scoreless first half, Lens gained a numerical advantage when a Slavia player was sent off. However, Danijel Sturm immediately stunned the visitors by firing the Czech side ahead in the 51st minute.
Dino Toppmöller’s side responded in the 73rd minute when Abdallah Sima leveled the score. Just as a draw seemed likely, Sturm struck again in the 88th minute to restore Slavia’s lead. In a wild three-minute flurry during stoppage time, Florian Thauvin and Ruben Aguilar scored consecutively to complete a stunning 3-2 comeback victory for the French side.
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